DISCOVERY SCHOOL - Alexandria, Minnesota School District 206

From the Principal,
Matt Aker
Students are settling in as we enter
into second semester and there are many routines and
daily schedules the students have figured out. It
should be getting easier, right? Well, let’s reflect on
what a middle-schooler typically works through on any
given day:
There is homework, fitting in, growing up,
looking good, friends, their abilities, their lack
of ability, making a mistake, and whether or not
they are wearing the right thing that day, plus
all the other unknowns. Add to these issues
anything (real or perceived) regarding their
family and friends, and your middle-schooler
might be more stressed out in January than at
the start of the year!
Parents who have gone through this with older siblings
might recognize that this is “normal”, but as quickly as
things change in an adolescent’s life, it can even catch
seasoned parents off guard. Some things we can do to
let our students know we want to help them be
successful might include:
1. Ensuring "down" time: A young adolescent is
involved in too many activities when there isn't
plenty of time to rest, "veg," occasionally sleep
in, daydream, reflect, or in other words...do
nothing!
2. Planning "together" time: Take time to just
listen without judgment or smothering their
thought processes with the "right" answer.
3. Engaging in family time: Have the courage to
turn off the TV, set aside other technologies,
and do something as a family (see #2)
4. Acknowledging the stress: Too often, parents
and guardians belittle the stresses of being a
young adolescent, especially when they
compare them to the strains of adulthood.
can’t seem to get a handle on regarding your student
and school, please call us at Discovery. We want to
know what is going on with your student, and together
we will plan on how to meet those ever-changing
needs of a middle-schooler!
From the 8 th Grade Dean,
Dave Peper
It certainly is hard to believe that, with
all of our efforts climbing through the
2012-13 school year, we have already
reached the mountain top of semester break. On the
calendar this should mean that it is all downhill from
here…right! The winter “dog days” that make the cold
weather and the redundancy of schedules seem to
drag on forever are now at hand. Sometimes it seems
as if spring will never come, but as always, it will. The
proof is in the hallways of Discovery Middle School
where there is perpetual sunshine beaming from the
faces of our students. Please help us celebrate the
diversity of seasons with your student and encourage
them to work hard in the classroom, play hard in their
activities, and love hard within your family.
Soon, the planning sessions for the transition from 8 th
grade to 9 th grade will also be upon us. Next year, your
8 th grader will be challenged academically to earn
credits towards their high school diploma. Often times
when our students have something measureable to
monitor, they find more motivational energy and their
academic efforts soar. The timeless question, “What’s
in it for me?” will now have an answer. Keep a
watchful eye out for information regarding registering
for 9 th grade classes. After all, this next step will be the
first towards planning a graduation party in 2017!
Finally, a friendly reminder regarding the commitment
we at Discovery have to you and your student: our
phone is yours to call (320-762-7900) and our doors
are always open to find success together in these
middle school years. May 29 th is NOT that far away!
Of course these are suggestions that work well with
most instances, but if there are other issues you just
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